Daily Activities for Helping Dementia Patients at Home

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Angie Kunnath

When providing home assistance for seniors living with dementia, caregivers should take the time to gain a full understanding of who their patient is as a person. This includes learning their interests, their taste in entertainment, their grooming habits, what their favourite pastimes are, as well as making sure they maintain a mentally, physically, and socially active lifestyle to the best of their ability. Here are several important guidelines that senior care providers employ in their practices.

Help Dementia Patients Maintain Proper Self-Grooming and Care

Caregivers are responsible for re-instilling essential life skills in their patients and assisting them when they need it. These skills include helping them prepare their own meals, laundering their own clothes, doing various chores around the house, and completing simple tasks. Even reminding them when to brush their teeth, when to bathe or shower, when to take their medications, and encouraging them to get dressed in the morning are all important aspects of helping them maintain their independence. Caregivers are there to assist their patients without making them feel incapable of completing their daily tasks.

Don’t Forget Your Own Self-Care

In order to be the best possible caregiver you can be, it’s highly important that you also care for yourself. The problem is that caregivers are usually so busy caring for the person with dementia that they tend to neglect their own self-care. Staying grounded and maintaining a level head is an imperative aspect of caring for another person, so don’t be afraid to ask for help whenever you need it or take a day off to unwind and get your own life in order. Your personal well-being and sanity are just as important as caring for your loved one. Make sure you’re giving them the best version of yourself so that they can rest assured knowing they’re in good hands.

Maintain a Normal Daily Routine

Keep in mind that before the person in your care was burdened with dementia, they led a normal life just like everyone else. They had interests, social interactions, and responsibilities. The best and most effective type of in-home care for dementia patients is to help them maintain as many of their favourite activities and pastimes as possible and encourage them to engage in mild physical and mental activities to help keep their skills sharp and their spirits up. For instance, if they used to like to read before bedtime, then encourage them to keep doing so. Or, if they’re unable to continue doing something they liked, then make similar recommendations. This type of familiarity will help the patient keep sight of who they are as a person.

Home Care Agencies Can Help Patients Uphold Daily Routines

Home Care Assistance – Kitchener, Waterloo, and Guelph is one of the most renowned home care agencies in the Kitchener/Waterloo area and we take great pride in the high-quality home care assistant services we offer to our clients. We completely understand how difficult it can be for family members to care for their loved ones with dementia. That’s why we make sure that our professional caregivers take the time to understand the needs and desires of your loved ones. Our goal is to ensure the safety, security, happiness, and overall well-being of our dementia patients. We offer supreme in-home dementia and elder care services that are specifically focused in Kitchener, Waterloo, and Guelph. For more information on our services, please contact us at (519) 954-2111.